Sobrato and Westmont are now knotted for the league’s fourth and
final automatic playoff berth after the Bulldogs dropped a 5-4
decision to Leland at home Tuesday
MORGAN HILL — At Sobrato’s expense, the postseason race got a tad more interesting Tuesday in the Mount Hamilton Division.
Sobrato and Westmont are now knotted for the league’s fourth and final automatic playoff berth after the Bulldogs dropped a 5-4 decision to Leland, and the Warriors upset Leigh to claim their fifth straight victory. Pioneer, also a winner Tuesday, is tied with Leland for sixth place — a game behind Sobrato and Westmont.
Six division contests remain.
On its home field, Sobrato (12-12 overall, 7-8 league) had a chance to pull even with Live Oak and Leigh for second place, but couldn’t put away the plucky Chargers (11-13, 6-9). Capitalizing off four Sobrato errors, Leland broke a 1-1 tie with four runs in the third inning. That was just enough to hold off the Bulldogs, who scored one run in the fourth and two in the fifth against starter Gregg Hipwell (5-3).
Trevor Marino worked a hitless final two innings to get the save.
Chris Bradley launched his second home run of the season, a solo shot, and Shea Adams doubled and scored twice for Sobrato. Tim Giles finished 2-for-3 batting.
Ryan Williams (5-3) took the loss.
The Chargers totaled seven hits — each from a different batter — and received doubles from Hipwell, Grant Brownfield, Will Boring and Vinnie Gemette.
Hipwell drove in two runs, walked five and struck out two in 4 2-3 innings.
Sobrato visits Leigh on Thursday before hosting Westmont on Tuesday.
